Continuous grip transmission line apparatus



Aug. 4,A 1953 H. L. BUSH 2,647,699

CONTINUOUS GRIP' TRANSMISSION LINE 'APPARATUS Filed Jan. 6, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet l l5 zo la ,3| 4 l? E 2 HARM/GH 3L/SH 4BY ow M ATTORNEYS Aug. 4, 1953 H. L. BUSH 2,547,699

CONTINUOUS GRIP TRANSMISSION LINE APPARATUS Filed Jan. e, 1951 e sheets-sheet 2 13a t? .l5 .l5

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HARM/QH L. BUSH BY A TTOR N E YS Aug' 4 1953 H. L. BUSH 2,647,699

CONTINUOUS GRIP TRANSMISSION LINE APPARATUS Filed Jan. 6, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 18. I l'mm rnTnm'gB I- 1793.7 l 63. l l I l :l IH 85 f 86 En lr:

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- f `ll5 HARLE/GH L BUSH '04 '02 :o5 H4 86A BY A Gl l 86B ,0IA I gw M ATTORNEYS H. L. BUSH CONTINUOUS GRIP TRANSMISSION LINE APPARATUS Filed Jan. 6, 1951 Aug. 4, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 BY WKK ATTORNEYS Aug. 4, 1953 H. L. BUSH 2,647,699

CONTINUOUS GRIP TRANSMISSION LINE APPARATUS Filed Jan. e, 1951 e sheets-Sheet s F". A 86 :17 86N JNVENTOR. HARM/GH l.. usH

*Y MTM A TTORNEY'S Aug. 4, 1953 H. L. BUSH cONTINUOUs GRIP TRANSMISSION LINE APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 6, 1951 -..Ulli s JNVENTOR. HARLE/ 'H ..usH

l5 BY ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 4, 1953 OFFICE CONTINUOUS GRIP TRANSMISSION LINE APPARATUSI Harleigh L. Bush, El Centro, Calif. Application January 6, 1951, Serial N o. 204,735 Claims. Cl. 242-54) The present invention relates to a method and ,apparatus .useful in unreeling a transmission kline cable from a supplyreel and disposing the cable adjacent transmission towers or poles to lwhich it is subsequently fastened.

. It is desirable, particularly in high voltage transmission lines, that the outer surface of the line or cable be smooth and unabraded to lminimize corona losses. High voltage transmission lines are usually made of spirally wound aluminum conductors with a central section comprising a plurality of similarly spirally wound steel wires for strength. The other aluminum conductors are relatively soft and are easily abraded, particularly if the cable or line is allowed to drag along the surface of the ground. It is therefore desirable that the equipment utilized in de- .reeling cable from its reel and suspending it in position for fastening adjacent a tower or pole be such that there is no likelihood that the cable be allowed to drag or touch the ground. It is therefore one of the objects of thepresent invention to provide improved equipment for achieving the above desideratum.

The present invention therefore contemplates the use ofnovel equipment which renders unnecessary the provision of auxiliary structures similar to saw horses spaced between towers for preventing the cable touching the ground. The use of the equipment therefore is intended to save the labor and expense which would otherwise be required in furnishing and disposing these auxiliary structures between towers. Further, the equipment shown herein is useful in Stringing transmission lines over canyons, ravines, rivers and the like where the provision of auxiliary structure between the suspension points `would be expensive, impractical or impossible.

The cable or transmission line operated on by lthe present equipment may, for example, have an outside diameter of approximately 11/8 inches and may consist of multilayers of aluminum wire, there being, for example, three layers of aluminum Wires and three inner layers of steel wire, there being a total of seven steel wires and 54 aluminum wires spirally wound. The outer layer may consist of 24 aluminum wires or strands, the second layer may consist of 18 aluminum wires or strands, and the third layer may consist of 12 aluminum wires or strands. The aluminum wires comprising the outer layer, for example, are wound in a clockwise direction, and the aluminum wires comprising the succeeding layers are wound respectively in the counterclockwise and clockwise directions, so that wires in adjacent layers are wound in opposite directions. In working with a cable of this structure, problems are presented in fle-reeling the cable from its supply reel in the process of suspending the same. For example, the line as wound on the reel may have different sections stressed and bent diierently, depending upon whether the particular section considered forms an inner convolution on the reel or an outer convolution. In other Words, upon unwinding or cle-reeling the cable there is a tendency for different sections of the cable to birdcage, i. e., the strands or wires comprising the outer layer of the cable may separate instead of lying in adjacent contacting relation with one another as intended. Heretofore, such birdcaging resulting from de-reeling the cable from the reel has been tolerated and its effect minimized by allowing the cable, after the de-reeling operation, to remain suspended between towers for one or two days within which the stresses along the cable may be equalized, and before the cableA is permanently fastened to the towers.

The present invention contemplates the `provision of apparatus whereby the outer strands of the cable are compacted when and as the cable is de-reeled in the process of suspending the same between towers so as to prevent "birdcaging, and to avoid the necessity of waiting one or two days, otherwise required, for the cable to assume a uniform condition along its length. Stated in other words, the present invention contemplates apparatus whereby a length of transmission line may be installed satisfactorily in a short time compared with prior art techniques.

Generally, the present invention contemplates the use of tractors or other vehicles to pull the cable, after it passes from its reel, through a novel device which incorporates means for resiliently gripping the cable and a brake for minimizing the speed at which the cable otherwise would be pulled by the tractor. By providing this device, the cable on the reel itself is not tensioned as a result of the force exerted by the tractor or vehicle, but all of the tension is taken by the device itself. By thus providing such device, the cable may be de-reeled from its reel in an orderly fashion and without adjacent convolutions abrading one another.

The present invention thus also contemplates the provision of a device whereby a cable may be paid out from its supply reel and suspended from towers without appreciably tensioning the cable while it is on the reel, thus producing obvious advantages.

By thus providing means whereby the cable on the reel is not tensioned while being paid out, the spacing between towers may be increased since such spacing heretofore was limited by the amount of tension which could be exerted on the cable while still on the reel. Stated in other Words, by appreciably minimizing the tension on the cable while still on the reel, the distance between to'wers f may be increased `and "grea-ter lengths ofca'ble maybefpulled,l thereby minimizing the number of splicings required and allowing the use of substantially all of the cable originally supplied on the reel without appreciable waste.

The present invention, sinceitallows'the'sp'acing between towers to be increased, is particu' larly desirable in those instances Yfwhere rivera canyons, ravines and the like present problems.

Further, the present invention contemplates the provision of improved means whereby the-cable as it is being paid out from the reel moves in a substantially straight line and is prevented. from waving'irom'sideto side.

I(renerally, ther4 present invention contemplates A'the provision of a combined cable fgrippingiand .braking structure through whichthe cable passes in itspassagelirom the reelltothe'towers,'and theprovisi'on of means ivhereby`thecornposite 'structure 'maybe moved relative to the. reel inacthe outer slayer -oi' "the cable, to thereby avoid to.- prevent stressing of "the cable yet "remaining i 'reled on the supply reel.

'Another object f'thepresent inventionis to provide 'apparatus oft'his character, the use of whichallows/immediate fastening of lthe'cable ontofthe towers without the`neces'sit'y of ywaiting 'forlocalized stresses in the"cable,.o`therwise pro- ;duce'd, to iexpend" themselves.

'Another object of`the.present invention is "to 'provide improved apparatus vof this .character whichlprevents theormation f birdcages in dereeled cable which comprises a plurality of spira-ily wou-nd strands,'an`d, infact, to uniformly compact .such strands of the 'cable' in. its outward 'passage' toth'e towers," to'I thereby cause neutralization 'of "localized 'stresses which are otherwise produced.

'Another "object 'of L' the present invention is to provide improved "apparatus of this character whichi'is portable' andyet incorporates'the aforementioned advantagesasubsidiary object being that the apparatus Aincorporates ballast tanks 'whic`h"rr1ay'bel filled with water, sand'or Athelike to provideastableanchor'iorone en'dof the cable as Ait is v"being strung between" towers.

4*Another*'object ofithe present inventioniis to :supporting structures disposed between towers.

Another object of the present invention is to ."provide improved-:apparatus of this character e r'which incorporates as a feature thereof, cable egripping-and-braking means to prevent stressing of the cable on the supply reel, a subsidiary feature -fbein'gl'thatffsuch means is allowed to turn aboutfthe axis of the dereeled cable to prevent theformation of birdcages in those instances where the cable comprises a plurality of spirally wound strands.

lAnother object 'crit-he -present invention isto provide improved VVapparatus f the character "mentioned in the preceding paragraph, characterized further, h'oweverf'by lthe fact that'the Igripping y'means functions *to continuously grip 'the cable" v'when "and '-as it i is" being dereele'd and strungbetween towers.

:Another yobj-"ect of the fpres'ent i" invention 'isto provide-arr improved fcab1e`-gripping`ineansof' this type characterized; -by itits""sirrir'nlicity and ruggedness.

` The" features of 'the -present invention lv'vhich larebelievedto benovel areset'forthiwith particularity in i the f appended claims. "iliisy invention' itselbothfas to'itsorganizationand'manner of "operation, together'f-wit-h lfurther 'obiects -a'rid advantages thereof, may be best nn'derstood'fby reference to the -fl'lowing -"descriptio'n'y taken vin jconnection 'with th'eacco'mpanying e"drawings in which:

T'Figure "1 isy a perspective "view 'Y showing *apparatus inasy'stem'embddying'features f the'present invention;

"Figure "2"' is aview in sidel'evati'n taken" 'substantially' on the" line' 2-2 f'f Figure-1;

Figure "3 is'ia view of therear" of 'theAv carriage shown as indicated by the lines 'i 3-i3'l inFigure', but with'thef'cabl'e 'reel'an'd iramesupporting the 'combination `cable I'gripping and "brake device omitted;

-"Figure 4' is'a views-'in-Sideielevationitaken generally infthel directionl indicated' by thel lines-444 in Figure v1 of 'the :combination 'cable gripping and brakedevice embodyingfeaturesof the'presentin'venton;

Figure r'5" Vis a sectional 'view through the device "shown'idFi'gure-"iand 'corresponds to a'view taken substantially on'the line '5-5 of Figure '7;

Figure* '6 is Fa *perspective` View "showing a` portion'o'f 'the apparatusshown n'Figure 4;

Figure "T vis a sectional'viewL taken" substantially onthe line 1-"1 fFi'gureei;

v"igureS is a'view inlevation taken" substantially 'in the "direction '`indi't'aicly bytheV '1ine8-i8 infFigure' '7 Figure 9'isa'sectio'nalview taken substantially 'onthe'line 9-9 vof Figure 4; K "FigurelO shows" in enlargeldlform'a' portion of thebrake" illustrated: in Figure 8 *Figure llfis a sectional viewtaken'substantia1- lynntheli'rie'v I l-l l of'Figure 1'9;

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken substantialtially in the direction indicated by the line I -I5 in Figure 4;

Figure 16 shows a portion of the structure of Figure but in different operating positions;

Figure 17 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line I'I-I1 of Figure 18;

Figure 18 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line I8-I8 of Figure 5;

Figure 19 is an exploded view showing in perspective the chain and associated rubber lined block detached; f

Figure 20 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 20-20 of Figure 19;

Figure 21 shows in perspective the cable gripping side of the rubber lined block of Figure 19 with a portion of the rubber lining removed for purposes of illustrating the manner in which the rubber lining removed for purposes of illustrating the manner in which the rubber lining is secured to the block;

Figure 22 is a view taken substantially on the line 22--22 of Figure 24, and the dotted lines shown, therein are helpful in explaining the retractable nature of thev auxiliary cable reel loading platform and the manner in which the cable reel is moved and is mounted for rotation;

Figure 23 is a view corresponding to the sectional view shown in Figure 22, but shows the braking handle inits normal operating position at the time cable is being dereeled from the reel;

Figure 24 is a sectional view taken substantially in the direction indicated by the line 24-24 in Figure 2;

Figure 25 is a sectional view through a modied structure which corresponds essentially to Figure 5;

Figure 26 is a view for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which a tractor or other vehicle is used to pay out the cable from the reel with s.

the combination cable gripping and braking device taking substantially all of the tension imparted in the cable by the tractor;

Figure 2'7 is a view of the apparatus similarto the View shown in Figure 13 but of a modified structure incorporating trunnions |45, |46 which allow pivotal movement of the cablegripping-and braking device I'I `about a vertical axis corresponding to the aligned axes of the trunnions |45, |46; and

Figure 28 represents in somewhat schematic form a reversible motor drive which vmay be used under some circumstances to drive the shafts 63A, 54A (Figure 5) for purposes of either paying in or paying out the cable I5 gripped by the device I1. Y

The arrangement for producing the aforementioned indicated results is preferably mounted on a mobile carriage III readily transportable to different locations as the cable Stringing process progresses.

In general, in the cable Stringing process, a tractor 5 as indicated in Figure 26 is used to pull the cable to positions adjacent the cable supporting towers 6 and to serve generally as an anchor for one end of the tensioned dereeled cable, the other end of the dereeled cable being gripped by the structure Il through which the cable passes. The dereeled cable passes through suitable guide blocks 'I with rollers which are mounted on the towers in a temporary manner such that eventually workers on the tower may conveniently attach the dereeled cable in a permanent manner to insulators on the tower and remove the blocks.

Generally, the carriage I0 is constructed of interconnected hollow frame members as described in detail hereinafter which may be filled with liquid or sand as desired for purposes of ballast. |Ihe carriage |0 mounts three identical devices or structures I 'I (only one of which is described in detail herein) through which cable or transmission line I5, originally supplied on a corresponding reel I6, is passed in the cable dereeling process. Such structure l1 incorporates combination gripping and braking means and is rotatably supported about the longitudinal axis of the cable I5 on a frame I8, the frame I8 being pivotally mounted on the carriage I0 so that in use of the equipment the ground engaging spades or spikes I9 at the lower end of the frame IB may enter the ground to hold the frame I8 rigid.

As shown in Figure l, the frame I8 is provided with three bays 20, 2| and 22 for mounting identical devices Il associated with a corresponding cable reel It. Three bays 20, 2| and 22 are provided since the equipment is intended for use in Stringing simultaneously the three cables in a three-phase transmission line.

The combination cable gripping and braking device Il serves to take the stress of that portion of the cable I5 which lies between the cable reel I5 and the device II, so that such cable portion between the drum I6 and device I 'I may have slack to thereby prevent application of force to the cable yet on the cable supply reel I6.

The device I'I serves primarily to overcome the tension force present on that portion of the cable between the transmission line tower and the device I'I. In prior art arrangements of this character, all or substantially all of the tension applied to the cable I5 while Stringing the same between towers was applied to the reel I6, so that the tensioned portion of the cable tended to cut into the remaining cable turns on the drum and to abrade the same. -As a matter of fact, the amount of the tension force which the cable reel I6 could withstand without detrimental effects determined the spacing between the transmission line towers. In the present invention the cable gripping and braking device I7 serves essentially to isolate the cable reel I6 from the forces present on that portion of the cable which extends from the device Il to the transmission line tower.

Cable reel structure and control The cable reel I 6 is releasably mounted on the axles 23, 24 which in turn are rotatably supported in spaced bearings 25, 26, respectively. The inner ends of these axles 23, 24 are provided with tapered ends 23A, 24A and contiguous flanges 23B, 24B. The tapered ends 23A, 24A are adapted to frictionally engage and to bind themselves into the conventional cylindrical centrally apertured portion IBA of the cable reel It. End thrusts of the shafts 23, 24 are taken up by the members 2l, 28, which are releasably attached to the bearing supports 3U, 3| and engage the outer ends of the shafts 23, 24. It is obvious that other means may be used if desired to take up the end thrust of the rotatable axles 23, 24, and the particular means shown is exemplary of such other' means. Both of these members 21, 28 are releasably xed to the corresponding bearing supports 30, 3i so that the same may be removed to permit axial movement of the associated shafts 23, 24 for purposes of allowingreplaoement of the supply cable spool .la SinceV theconical or tapered ends '.ZIiA are in binding engagement with the wooden reel I6; the nanges 23B, 26B areprovided to facilitate separation of these elements, as for example, by pryingthem apart using a crowbar between the flanges 23B, 25B and the reel.

Means are provided to brake or lock theV cable reel' i6 against rotation, and these means, perhapsbest seen in Figures 22, 23 and 2li, comprise a'pair of parallel spaced plates t2,v 33 of channel stockpivoted for movement as a unit about pivot pins 3F. and lief These plates 32, S3, joined together by cross'brace 63,' each have welded thereto railmembers ed' and di and are movable upon actuation of Athe manually operable control handlelli. This control handle ft2 is pivotally mounted at a point intermediate its ends on the shaft d5 on carriage i8, and has its lower end pin connected to one end of the linlr itl. The other end of the link 4l' is pin connected to the crank member d8 which. has mounted on its free end a rod i9 engaging the under surfaces of the plates 32 and 33.

It is apparent that oountercloclzwise or down ward movement of the handie :l2 in Figure 23 results in upward movement of the plates t2 and 33 into engagement with the spaced rims of the reeliii to cause braking or locking of the same, depending upon the magnitude of force applied to the handle. The handle l2 may be used to brake or loci; the cable reel ie against rotation and, in fact, may be used as an emergency brake to withstand the tension to which any. portion of the cable l5 is subjected in the event of, for example, failure of the device il.

It is noted that the pivoted end of the cable braking plates 32, 33 lies on substantially the same plane as the loading platform 5d, which is pivotally mounted on the carriage lo for move ment from the'dotted line position shown in Figure 22 to the full line position, where it serves as a loading platform for the cable reel also shownin dotted lines. This loading platform or reel stand, because of its pivotal mounting on the carriage l0, is transported with such carriage, the stand rlrst being moved, for that purpose, inwardly towards the carriage and lashed to the carriage.'

In loading the cable reel i6 it is essential, as

indicated'abova'that the cylindrical apertured portion of the cable reel EB be aligned with the axles 23, 24 (Figure 24) This alignment is accomplished, after the cable reel is reeled into posiu tion from the loading platform 5U onto the horil zontally-positioned.brakingplatform 32, y33, by lifting the braking platform, using the handle 42 for that purpose, until the aligned condition is achieved. Then, the axles 23, 24 are inserted in position and the means 2l, 28 placed in operative position to take up end thrust on such axles 23, 2d, yetallowing them to rotate in the bearings 25, 26 with the cable reel. After such loading is accomplished, the plates 3?., 33 are dropped and used thereafter for braking purposes as well as' to facilitate removal of the empty reel.

The cable i5 is dereeled and strung out for attachment to the transmission line towers, using a tractor in the manner indicated in Figure 26.

In Figure 26 the end of the cable is attached tothe tractor and is held in tension thereby either when and as the tractor moves or while it is stationary. The tractor moves, in this process, in the direction indicated by the arrow 5A', past the transmission line towers 6, and as the Clt 8, tractor reaches aparticular'- tower the cable is raised, byv means of a block or tackle or other means, to the top of the tower to a position where it is 'ultimatelyifastened byY conventional means, not shown herein. This procedure is .generally conventional, butin accordance with the present invention the tensioning of the cablev l5, occasioned by movement of the tractor, is taken up by the combination gripping and braking device il instead of by the cable reel I6 itself. In such case the reach of'cable between the reel le and device Il is under appreciably no stress, only a stress sufficient to cause the reel I6' to rotate. This rotation of the reel limay be aided or produced entirely by manual efforts of the operators, if desired; To prevent undue rotation of the reel, the plates 32, 33 may be used either as an' overrunningvbrakeor `as an emergency brake as described above.

The combination gripping and braking device Il includes a pluralityr of rubber lined blocks t!) which are constructed as shown in Figures 18, 19, 20 and 21' and are mounted on a pair of endless chains 6! and 62'. The chains 6l, 62, as seen in Figure 5, pass over' sprocket wheels, the chain 6l passing over spaced sprocket wheels B3, 65 and the chainzvpassing over spaced sprocket wheelsil, 56. These chains 6l, 62 pivotally support a plurality of such blocks 60' in the manner described hereinafter.

The blocks Gil as seen in Figures 19 and 21 are generally of channel construction with four reentrant portions T01 in the back of the metal channel backing member ll, such reentrant por tions providing clearance openings for the rollers in the endless chains. These rollers are all of structure identical to'those shown at 'i4 in Figure 19, Further, the sides of the backing member ll are provided with a pair of apertured portions 'l iA adapted to'receive the downwardly extending projections 15A ofthe chain connecting links 15, such projections 15A being securely welded to the sides ofthe channel backing member ll. These chain linksl 15, in turn, are releasably secured'to the chain connecting pins 'I8 by means of Cotter pins '(9, so that when and as desired or required, for replacement or repair purposes, the individual blocks 60 may be removed and replaced.

The channel backing member 1|, of generally internal rectangular cross section, is made arcuate in shape by welding a bowed expanded metal strip 82' thereto. This bowed expanded metal strip 82, in turn, hasits outer face lined with resilient material 84 such as rubber or the like, such resilient material being affixed in position by vulcanizing or by other expediente so that it may firmly engage the cable l5 in its passage through the structure I'l.

It is noted in Figures 5 and 18, that a pair of such rubber lined blocks 60 is on diammetrically opposite sides ofthe cable I5, and such pair is adjustably spaced, by means described in detail hereinafter, .to firmly grip such cable to prevent relative slipping movement between the cable and the block while such cable is under tension. Such pairs of rubber lined blocks ll, on diammetrically opposite sides of the cable l5, thus form a part of the cable gripping mechanism. In order to retard or preventy the movement of the cable l5 through the structure il, braking or locking means described in detail hereinafter are associated with each of the endless chains 6I, 62 which mount the rubber lined cable gripping blocks 60.

In-order to effect such retarded movement of the chains 6 62, brake discs 6 IA, 62A are mounted respectively on the sprocket-shaftsl 03A, 64A,

associated with corresponding chains `6|, 62 for movement with such chains. Each of these 'brake' discs BIA, v62A has manually operated "braking controls of the type shown 'in Figure 18 which are effective upon manual operation of the control rod 85'to apply pressure to the corre- `adjustment bolt 83 passes through a collar `88 ailxed to the lower frame member 81, such bolt 88 having welded thereto a pair of spaced rings `80, 8| on opposite sides of the collar 88 to prevent longitudinal movement of the bolt with respect to the frame memberl. The upper end of the bolt 88, however, has screw' threads thereon cooperating with the'screw threads in the threaded sleeve 92 anixed to the frame member 86,- whereby the frame member 88 is moved either closer to or further from the member 81, depend- 'ing upon the direction of rotation of the adjustment bolt 88. During such relative move- `ment the frame members 88, y81| are guided with respect to each otherby means or the guides in the form of plates exemplified'by the plates 83,"9'4 on frame member tl'cooperating withl the 'guide plate 95 on frame member 81.

The frame member 86, thusjoined by means of adjustment bolts 88 tothe frame member 01, has welded thereto a circular plate 96 (Figures 9 and 11) which in turn is journaled lfor rotation on the stationary carriage frame I0. The purpose for thus rotatably supportingtheframe members 86, 81 for rotation about the axis of the cable I5 passing therethrough is to prevent ,"birdcaging of the standard cable, and the structure whereby this is accomplished is described in detail hereinafter.' It is suiicient, for present purposes, to note that the upper frame member 86 is mounted on the carriage frame I0. and ythat turning of the adjustment Aboltsilil results in either `upward or downward movement of the other frame 'member 81, depending upon the direction of rotation of `such adjustvment bolts 88.

` Referring to Figures 5 and 18, the frame membersl 86, 81'are of generally the same box construction, and for that reason a detailed descripktionof the'frame member 86 Aserves likewise to describe the construction of the other frame member 81.

`The `frame member 8'6 as-seenin Figure 18 includes a pair of` vertically spaced plates 86A,

86B, Whichis spaced by a horizontally extending hardened chrome-inoly wear plate 86C, such plate 88C'being firmly ailixed to 'the' spaced plates 86A, 86B in a` unitary box construction.

`One surface of such plate 88C serves asa bearing surface for the rollers 14 on the chain 8| and extends substantially the entire distance between sprocket' wheels '83, 85. These sideplates 86A,V 88B havel also mounted thereon longitudi- 'nally extending bearing plates 86E, 86F, respectively, adapted to contact the sides of the rub- :ber lined blocks' `60 to guide the same.` In gen- 'biased brake shoes |80, |0I.

-such frames 86, 81.

l0 eral, therefore, the movement of the rubber lined blocks 60 is guided by such bearing plates 86E, 881i' as well as the Wear plate 86C.

Further, since each one of the brake structures, including respectively the brake discs BIA, 62A, are of identical construction, a detailed description of the brake associated with the disc BIA serves likewise as a description of the braking mechanism associated with the disc 62A. The brake disc 6| A mounted on the same shaft as sprocket 63, for joint movement with the endless chain SI passes between a pair of spring The position of these brake shoes |80, |0| is controlled by the position of the manually operated rod 85, a1- though it is noted that the brake shoes |00, I0'I are normally held in adjusted braking position by means of the coil compression spring |02, the tension o-f which may be adjusted by the adjustment nut |04 threaded on the rod |05 passing through the helical coil spring |02. The brake shoes |00, |0| are pivotally mounted on the U-shaped bracket |06 depending from the frame member 88. For this purpose pivoted link members |81, |08, each pin connected at their extremities, interconnect the brake shoes |00, |0I and bracket |08. The lo-Wer extremities |80A and |0|A of the brake shoes |08, |8| are each pressed by opposite ends of the coil compression spring |02, to thereby press the brake shoes |80, 8| in engagement with the brake disc 6|A`with a normal force depending upon the adjusted position of the nut |04. In order to increase or decrease the braking force on the brake disc vGIA, the manually operated control rod 85 is moved in a corresponding outward or inward direction, the outward direction being indicated by the arrow I I0.

Speciically, the control rod 85 is slidably mounted in the sleeve aflixed to the frame member 88. The inner end of the rod 85 has a link member ||2 pin connected thereto, the 0pposite end of the link member ||2 being pin connected to the brake shoe extension |8|A, while 'an intermediate portion of such link |I2 is pin connected to an eyelet on the adjustment bolt |05 passing through the spring |82. Thus, upon outward movement of the control rod 85 in the direction indicated by the arrow ||0, the link ||2 is pivoted in a clockwise direction initially about the axis of the pin ||4 which serves -to interconnect the link ||2 to the extension I0|A, and then subsequently about the axis of the pin 5 which passes through the eyelet of the bolt |05. Such initial pivoted movement of `the link I I2 about the axis of pin ||4 causes pivotal movement of the brake shoe |08 towards the disc 6|A. Subsequently, continued pivotal movement of the link |2 is about the axis of the pin I5 to cause movement of the other brake shoe |8| towards the brake disc BIA. Conversely, movement of the control rod 85 in the direction opposite to that shown .by the arrow ||0 results in releasing of braking forces f to the braking disc BIA.

While a specic type of braking means is described for retarding or locking the movement Vand the particular braking means described, per

se, forms no part of the present invention.

`As indicated above, the frames 86, 81Aare mounted for rotational movement as a unit about the 'axis of the cable I5 passing between The specific means Whereby such rotational mounting is effected is described now in relationship to Figures 9, 1l, 12, 13 and 14. The frame member S6, as shown in Figure 9, has Welded thereto the circular disc 96 which is rotatably supported on the carriage frame 1 t1. To facilitate movement of the disc `$6, a plurality of antifriction means is providpose are uniformly spaced about the circumference of the disc 96.

The purpose of thus rotatably supporting the frames 86 8l for rotation about the axis of the cable 1-5 is to prevent birdcaging of cable which comprises spirally wound strands. The speed at which the frame members S6, 'el are thus rotated depends upon the pitch of the .spiral strands; and for a given cable, the speed at which the frame members 86, tl are thus rotated as a unit is a direct function of the linear speed of the cable through the structure Il. Vihile the cable gripping means supported on the frame members te, 8l may be manually rotated to achieve this general purpose, preferably the frame members 86, 671 are rotated as a unit automatically. For this purpose the belt drive indicated by the .general reference numeral E in Figure 'll is provided. A belt 126 passes over the spaced pulleys 121, |28, the pulley 1.27 being mounted, -as shown in Figures e, 5 and 15, on the same shaft which supports the sprocket 65, so that the sprocket v65 and pulley |21 move together as a unit.

The pulley 128 is mounted `on the input shaft |39 .of the right angl-e gearbox 432. The output 'shaft vof the gearbox mounts a driving gear 1,34 which is constantly in mesh with the ring gear 1136 bolted to the stationary frame member 111A ias .shown in Figure 11.

:Since the ring ,gear i331 is stationary, rotation of the gear |34 causes rotation of the frame members 86, 3l about the axis of the cable 15.

'The speed at which such rotation cf the frame mem-bers '86, -i takes place 4depends upon the #speed of the cable l5 passing through the griplping device 1l', This -speed may, for example, be nine revolutions per 5&0 feet lof cable passing through the device i1 l, the 'exact number of revolutions being determined by the pitch 'of the outer x'spiral .strands lon the cable to prevent birdcagving and to, fact, compact uniformly such outer strands.

As indicated above, the frames 86, 6l., rmov-able as a unit, may lbe moved manually if desired, or vif the automatic mechanism described hereinabove is used, preferably the belt .drive i12-5 is made adjustable 'in speed, using for Iexample the expedient shown in detail in Figures .1'5 and 16, wherein means are provided whereby the belt |26 .may ride lon different portions of the .adjustably spaced pulley liange's 136., 13'?. The spacing between such pulley nanges 136, 1.31 may Vbe a'd ljusted by turning the knurled Iadgusting .nut `11ML For this purpose the pulley half 131' is :slidably mounted on fthe pulley shaft M2 :and is in 'en- 'gagement with the :sleeve '143 which is also :slidably mounted on the shaft 14.2. By turning the knurled adjustment nut 146, the sleeve 1.43 and pulley half 131 are slid close-r to or further from the other pulley half |36, depending upon the direction of rotation of the adjustment nut |40. The adjacent faces of pulley halves 136, 131 are tapered toallow gripping contact with the wedge cross section belt 126, which thus contacts either an inner or outer portion of the pulley 136, 1.31, depending upon the spacing between pulley halves 136, 431.

While, as described above in .relationship to Figures 11 and 13, the frame member 10A is rigidly affixed to the carriage frame 104, ,preferably, as shown in Figure27, the corresponding carriage frame A is trunnioned by means of trunnions |45, |46 on the stationary. carriage frame 10, so that the composite cable gripping and braking device 1'1 may be pivoted about ya vertical axis for a `distance of 15 either to the right or to the left, Ias seen in Figure 27, so that the device 1l may automatically position itself in correct oriented relationship with respect to the cable reel and the reach ofk cable which extends in the direction of the rst towen This oriented direction, o'. "Jourse, changes gradually since the adjacent cable turns on the reel are spaced horizontally, e., the cable being conveniently disposed in layers on the cable reel 16 aS shown in Figure 24.. By this .expedient shown in Figure 27, the unit 1T1 thus automatically pivots about the aligned .axes of the'trunnions 145, '146, i. e., about a vertical axis, to assure the .absence of kinking and a more uniform handling of the cable by the gripping device 1l` Figure .25 illustrates. a .modified structure whereby the cable 515 .is continuously ,gripped by rubber lined articulated blocks 160, corresponding to the rubber lined blocks 60 shown the previous figures. However, instead of providing antifriction means for accommodating movement of the `chain of blocks |611, the outer surfaces of such blocks 161) continuously rub against hardened extended bearing surfaces |61, .162 on opposite sides of the cable 515. Since a relatively 'large amount of heat is developed as a result of the friction between the chain vof blocks 16D and such .bearing .surfaces 1.6.1, |62, a cooling water jacket 16'3, 1611 is in communication with such bearing surfaces 161 162 respectively, for heat transfer and dissipation-purposes. .In .other respects the arrangement shown 'in Figure '25 incorporates the .structures described 'in detail hereinabove.

In all of the arrangements described above, the cable passing through the device 11 is uniformly and continuously gripped .by rubber lined blocks, the speed yof which may .be `Vcon-trollerl with an associated braking means. The direction of movement of the cable .in the .gripping device is from the rear outwardly in the direction .of the first tower, such motion being produced by movement of the pulling tractor as indicated in ,Figure 26. `itn long runs fof the cable it is sometimes desirable, for purposes of taking up slack Vin the extended 'cable length closest to the device 1111 to pay Ain some of the cable, and in such case, .if desired, a lmotor may be coupled to the sprocket shafts 153A, 64A (Figure 5.) for driving theseshafts .as a uni-t. Preferably, thisvinstance the motor includes a 'reversible drive whereby the cable 15 may be moved either to .the right :or to the left in Figure 5., depending upon the @direction of 'the drive. rIt is @believed `that `this arrangement ris lobvious to one skilled `the art, in mind i3 the teachings and structures shown herein, and for that reason such reversible motor drive is shown in schematic form in Figure 28.

Preferably, as mentioned1 above, the carriage frame lil includes a plurality of hollow structural elements which may be filled either with sand or water, as desired or believed necessary, for providing a rigid anchor for the extended length of cable, particularly when the pull on the cable i5 may be in the order of 4,800 pounds when cable having a weight oi approximately 11/4 pounds per foot is being strung. Speciiically, for this purpose, as indicated in Figure 23, the skids IEC, HBD (Figure 23) adapted to rest on the ground are hollow and are shown as being iilled with water. Also, for the same purpose, as shown in Figure 24, the upstanding bearing supports 25A, 26A, are likewise shown filled with water. In this respect, also of importance is the manner in which the frame i8 is associated with the carriage It. Specifically, the spades or spikes I9 serve also to anchor the equipment, and the pivoted connecting arms iiA, 18B, itC, itl) (Figure 1) having opposite ends thereof pin connected, on the one hand, to the carriage ill and, on the other hand, to the frame i8, provides a long lever arm which tends to overcome the tendency of the carriage i9 to be tipped in the direction of the tensioned cable. This expedient also allows convenient assembly for transport purposes. Thus, when it is desired to move the equipment to a different location, the frame i8 as a unit is swung in towards the carriage lll to a position where the upstanding frame members iE, 12F are engaged by the biiurcated supports iE, [din on the carriage to which such frame may be lashed as a unit.

While in use, the carriage skids i90, NED, as shown in Figures 22 and 23, rest on the ground and of course they are raised above the ground while the equipment is being transported. To effect such raising, and for purposes of maintain- 'ing such skids in raised position conventional means, per se forming no part of the present invention, may be used to elevate the carriage lil with respect to the forward and rear wheels of the carriage. As shown in Figure 3, hydraulically operated means |79 may be used in connection with the rear wheels, while other means such as manually operated jacks may be used to move the up-standing wheel spindle lli with respect to the bearing |72. Means not shown are used to maintain the bearing |72 in adjusted position with respect to the spindle lli.

While the particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a cable reel having a cable thereon, a carriage rotatably supporting said reel, said reel having a pair of spaced peripheral edges, a bottom plate pivotally mounted on said carriage, manually operable means arranged, upon actuation, to pivot said plate into engagement with said peripheral edges to thereby brake the reel, a combined gripping and brake structure mounted on said carriage, said structure comprising a pair of endless belts, each of said belts 'comprising a plurality oi articu- 14 lated resilient blocks, with blocks of opposite pairs disposed adjacent each other and adapted to grip the cable supplied from said reel therebetween, and adjustable brake means restraining the movement of said pair of belts.

2. In equipment of the character described, a cable reel mounted for rotation whereby cable thereon may be unreeled therefrom, a combined cable gripping and brake structure through which said cable passes, said structure incorporating mean-s whereby said cable is continuously and resiliently engaged in its passage therethrough, said structure incorporating brake means whereby the movement of the cable through said structure is retarded, and means whereby said structure, as a unit, may be swiveled about the axis of the cable.

3. In equipment of the character described, a carriage, said carriage incorporating means whereby a cable reel may be rotatably supported thereon so that a cable reeled thereon may be removed therefrom, a combined cable gripping and brake structure, means rotatably mounting said structure on said carriage, said structure incorporating means whereby cable passing therethrough is resiliently and continuously engaged thereby, and said structure incorporating brake means whereby the movement of said cable gripping means is retarded.

4. In equipment of the character described, a carriage, said carriage incorporating means whereby a cable reel may be rotatably supported thereon so that cable on said reel may be dispensed therefrom, said reel having a peripheral edge, a bottom plate pivoted on said carriage, manually operable means arranged, upon actuation, to pivot said bottom plate into engagement with said peripheral edge to thereby brake the movement of the reel, a combined cable gripping and brake structure, means rotatably mounting said structure on said carriage about the axis of the cable passing therethrough, said structure incorporating means whereby the cable passing therethrough is resiliently and continuously engaged thereby, and said structure incorporating brake means whereby the movement of said cable incorporating means is retarded.

5. In apparatus of the character described, a carriage, means mounted on said carriage for rotatably supporting a cable reel having a cable thereon about substantially a horizontal axis, a combined cable gripping and braking device, a frame pivotally mounted on said carriage and having ground engaging spikes, means rotatably supporting said device for rotation about an axis corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the cable supplied from said reel passing therethrough, said last mentioned means incorporating means whereby said device may be pivoted about substantially a vertical axis.

HARLEIGI-I L. BUSH.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,716,229 Immel et al June 4, 1929 1,836,815 Reeves Dec. 15, 1931 1,895,217 Van Vorst Jan. 24, 1933 1,896,415 Pyles Feb. 7, 1933 2,103,295 Mucha Dec. 28, 1937 2,245,788 Kempe June 17, 1941 2,400,739 Burge May 21, 1946 2,507,774 Foley May 16, 1950 

